Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Now that we have returned to Ordinary Time, we begin this Liturgical Season with two doctrinal celebrations which are fundamental to our Christian beliefs. This Sunday we celebrate the Most Holy Trinity. Our Lord Jesus has revealed to us the very nature of God, One yet Three Divine Persons. Our finite minds may have difficulty in grasping this but we remember that we are embracing the mystery of God Who draws us into His infinite love and has demonstrated that love by sending His Son to save us. Father and Son promised to be with us always and so they have sent the Holy Spirit as our constant companion and guide. In the Sacrament of Confirmation, we have become fully aware of the Holy Spirit’s working in our lives. This we call the life of grace. And how does that grace come to us? In the Sacraments of the Church most especially in the Holy Eucharist.
Sad to say some have lost their understanding of the necessity of the Holy Eucharist in their lives. Jesus said: “Unless you eat My Flesh and drink My Blood you will have no life within you.” When we dismiss the necessity of the Real Presence of Christ in us often there is an endless and futile search for the things of this world to fulfill our longings. The result is a profound emptiness that can never be fulfilled. Without Christ in us we are nothing.
This brings us to the next Sunday, which is the feast of Corpus Christi. We demonstrate our Faith in the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist not only by our participation at Mass but also by our processing with the Holy Eucharist outside and around the church, weather permitting. After the procession, we return to the sanctuary for an afternoon of adoration. At 3 PM we will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy; at 3:30 the family Rosary; and at 4 PM sung Vespers and conclude with Benediction. You are welcome to join in all or part of our afternoon celebration. This inaugurates the nationwide Eucharistic Revival. By our devotion, we pray that those who have slipped away from the understanding of God’s profound love for us may once again embrace the faith they received in their youth.
As the Psalm says: “How can I make a return to the Lord for all the goodness He has bestowed on me?” The answer is simple. Come spend some time with Him in the Presence of the Holy Eucharist and know how much He loves you.
With Blessings,
Father Langan